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Council raises determined with bylaw

While some municipal councils grapple over whether they should give themselves raises in tough economic times, Sault Ste. Marie city council solved that problem years ago.

City council receives increases each year effective Dec. 1 based on a city bylaw.

The honorarium increase each year is determined by averaging the wage settlement between the city, its management staff and its employees in the CUPE bargaining unit for that year.

Car allowances also increase at the same time and increases are based on the percentage increase of the CPI of the previous year.

The formula was developed during a 1986 honorarium review and reaffirmed during the last honorarium review completed in 2001.

During that review, no increases were given until the new council was elected in 2003.

One-third of the honorarium provided to mayor and council are tax free and that is reaffirmed by way of a bylaw at the beginning of each council term, said Malcolm White, city clerk.

White said council providing themselves honorarium increases has “always been seen as problematic and that's why a former review committee decided to build in the increases,” he said. “It's really a political landmine.”

In North Bay, council battled out the issue of awarding themselves a salary increase after a motion was penned suggesting council consider putting its annual cost of living increase on hold for a year. The resolution was also designed to help council with its budget deliberations and as a method of looking for saving,s but was rejected by most of that council, including the mayor.

In Sault Ste. Marie, Mayor Debbie Amaroso's honorarium was increased $1,387.82 to $67,951.92. Her car allowance is now $375.04 per month.

City councillors now receive $21,837.10, an increase of $446.

Monthly car allowances also increased slightly to $208.28.

All members of council accept their full honorarium and car allowance, White said.